Feedback on Ambien Side Effects and Usage, page 27

About Ambien

Discussion forum about the side effects of Ambien. Share your experience and opinion about Ambien. What would you tell your best friend about this product? Please remember that we do not give medical advice. That is for your local health care provider, who is familiar with your medical history.

Ambien Long termDate: 2/19/2007I was placed on ambien after a mountain bike crash. I have been taking it for over 4 months nightly. 12.5 CR the ok for long term use. I have also been dealing with depression following the accident. Meds have been changed due to the depression still being there. To make a long story short I feel part of the problem has been the ambien. I go to sleep ok with it but still wake tired. so 2 days ago I stopped taking it. 1st night bad sleep with nightmares. Last night better still not as good as with ambien or that is what I thought. It’s afternoon and have been going strong all day. No depression and not tired. I’ll see how it goes but I really feel the ambien was not only making me tired but was also adding to the depression. Anyone else experienced the same?

David

Frightening episodeDate: 2/22/2007I started taking Ambien about a month ago. At first I didn’t notice any problems with it, and it seemed to work great. After about 2 weeks of taking it I had a very frightening episode. My children told me one morning that the night before I’d done all kinds of strange things, things I didn’t remember such as eating, going to my car and saying things I would never say. I actually sat on a heater as well but thankfully was not injured. People should be warned about the side affects of Ambien.

Nikki

Vivid dreamsDate: 2/22/2007Have used Ambien for 8 years, and, as far as I know, have no side effects. Sleeping problems stem from many years of being constantly awakened by my husband’s snoring. Also, we travel a great deal, and I never sleep on airplanes. I use the 6mm CR tablets and it usually gives me 7-8 hours sleep. I often have vivid dreams, but not necessarily unpleasant. I will continue this usage for the long term, unless advised against it by my doctor. It has made a great difference in the quality of my life.

Julia

Ambien and goldenseal?Date: 2/25/2007The doctor prescribed ambien to me and I have had a cold and started to take goldenseal what kind of reaction will I have if any to taking those together

Jeanna

AskDocWeb: Goldenseal is not known to have any reaction with Ambien. On the other hand if you are pregnant or nursing, goldenseal is contraindicated. If you have any blood sugar problems it could also cause hypoglycemia.

Ambien and alcoholDate: 2/27/2007I have been taking adbien for about 2 or 3 months. It gives me a great nights sleep and has no other side effects. I usually have a 3 or 4 beers/drinks after work and before bedtime. I think it is great. I just worry that if I drink 1/2 half a case and take it I won’t wake up. I try to limit myself to 3 or 4 drinks after work.

Kevin

AskDocWeb: All the experts say that ambien is not to be used with alcohol. If you continue to do that, you could die.

Addicted to ambienDate: 3/5/2007I have a close friend whom is evidently addicted to ambien. She takes the drug throughout the day and becomes aggressive and an authority on everything. She has had three car accidents, two with her children in the car, and has sincerely lost touch with reality. We recently went on a group trip and her addiction ruined the trip for everyone. She was delusional, aggressive, sleep walked, picked fights in the lounge, had trouble breathing when sleeping, stole food from the hotel kitchen ate in bed while half asleep and fell asleep spilling it all over herself. I feel badly that she was so out of it & that she had no idea how unattractive her behavior was. Has absolutely no clue, does not even understand our concerns. This is a very dangerous drug, the effects that I have seen on my friend are far worse than any effects I have seen from alcohol or any illegal drugs, except perhaps meth.

Addison

Ambien body aches?Date: 3/6/2007I love the Ambien and it does help me sleep through the night and I feel refreshed the next morning. However, I have noticed my body aches and my vision is very sensitive to light. When I stayed off of the ambien for a few nights I did not have the body aches but then I didn’t sleep as well. Is this a normal symptom? I read some of the other feedback and no one really mentions the body aches. Just curious if the aches could be due to the ambien.

Linda

AskDocWeb: It depends on where in your body the aches occur. 3% of users report back pain, 1% report chest pain, and 19% report headache. What you call body aches is referred to medically as myalgia and that is experienced by 7% of Ambien users.

Prescription always times outDate: 3/12/2007I’ve found ambien to be very useful over the past 2 years, but I only take 5 mg, and I only take it for one or 2 nights at a time. This way I don’t get addicted, and I can look forward to a good nights sleep if I’ve been having a few bad ones. It’s just a little backup for me – knowing that I have it takes some pressure off. The funny part is that my prescription always times out before I get any refills!

Ddream

Not as advertisedDate: 3/12/2007Ambien does not work for me as advertised. I take two 6.25 CR tablets and like clockwork I wake up 4-5 hours later with a pounding headache and unable to go back to sleep. The next day I experience all of the issues associated with sleep deprivation. Certainly not like the commercial when the couple wake up well rested to a sunny day.

Steven

Date: 3/15/2007I have used ambian for years and was using ambian cr generally three nights a week. In early February I noticed an unusual redness of my skin on both of my arms around the inside of the muscle area. I suddenly became concerned about all illnesses related to the rash and my sleep problems worsened because of the anxiety I developed. In order to sleep I started taking Ambian CR every night and about a week later I noticed I was extremely fatigue during the day. I also noticed that I had bouts of dizziness along with a tingling sensation in both of my arms. I have seen every doctor I could to get to the bottom of this and every MRI or lab test I have taken has come back OK.I still don’t know if all this can be traced to Ambian or the increased use to every day but after all the press about side effects of this drug I stopped taking it last night to see if the symptoms I have mentioned disappear. Has anyone heard of these effects I mentioned while using Ambian?

Leon

AskDocWeb: Others have reported all your symptoms except the tingling sensation. Please share what happens when you discontinue the Ambien CR.

Confusion and memory lossDate: 3/16/2007I have taken ambien for years. I do not fall asleep if I do not take medication. I am 64 years old and I must work, but I can’t work without at least 7 hrs sleep. I can say I have built up a tolerance for some medications. Ambien works if I haven’t eaten for at least 6-8 hrs. If I eat it will not work. Yes, if I stay up after taking xanax and ambien, I get drunk or loopy as my family calls it. The first thing they say when they call at night—is “have you had your medicine?” They know if I have I may talk out of my head, be dizzy, etc. This is common with these type drugs! What do people expect? If they take a tranquilizer or a sleeping pill and don’t go to bed? I am becoming concerned about poor concentration and short term memory loss, but I am on Wellbutrin, ambien, xanax, and cymbalta. I have bi-polar manic depression, but I am so much better with these meds. But wondering which one of these are causing the confusion and memory loss, and would like to change drugs if this is the case. I have been on medications most of my adult life. Sincerely,

Marilyn

AskDocWeb: Ambien is known to cause both confusion and memory loss.

Ambien chocolate bingesDate: 3/16/2007I have been taking Ambien 10 mg for a few months. I sleep great and wake up very vibrant and feeling well rested. The one drawback to this medication is that I wake up during the night and go on chocolate binges. I assume that I am still sleeping while this is occurring. I wake to find candy wrappers on my nightstand and sometimes in my bathroom. I also have gained about 7 pounds. Other than the nighttime binges, I really like Ambien.

Michelle

Vision problemsDate: 3/17/2007I’ve read these stories and notice that a few talk about vision problems. I have been taking Ambien for about 6 months now. I went to the eye doctor before I started, and once again a few weeks ago. During the past six months my eyesight has grown decidedly worse, especially in my right eye. Is there evidence that Ambien causes this? If I stop, will the eyesight return or have I lost it forever. I also have outbursts of anger and I can’t lose weight, though I have been eating a great deal less and working out.

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